Three New Summer Books Offer Vampires, Murder And A Humorous Take On Mortality

In his new collection of essays, David Sedaris explores some of the losses in his life. Meanwhile, first-time author and San Antonio attorney Raymond Villareal has penned an oral history of the vampire uprising.

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Summer reading is a time-honored tradition for book lovers who find themselves by a beach or lake, and Kirkus Reviews Editor-in-Chief Clay Smith has some recommendations for your vacation book bag.

Humorist David Sedaris has a new book of stories, called “Calypso,” due out May 29. Smith says this collection is a bit darker than Sedaris’ previous books.

“He’s really thinking more about mortality, his mother’s alcoholism, his sister’s suicide,” Smith says. “But it’s also quite funny. And we say that it’s his darkest book, but his best.”

“How It Happened” is Michael Koryta’s 12th novel. It centers on an FBI agent who encounters a double murder while on vacation in Maine. A specialist in interrogation, the agent works to solve the crime.

“He just has great characterization, and I wish more people knew about him,” Smith says.

San Antonio writer Raymond Villareal’s debut novel is called “A People’s History of the Vampire Uprising.” Smith says it’s written as an oral history in many voices – and the film rights to Villareal’s book have already been sold to 21st Century Fox.